Apparatus for producing sheet glass



Julyf28, 1931. I J. L. DRAKE 51m.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET.GLASS Filed May 2, 1930 INVENTOR Jbhn L. DraKe LuKe C. Mam hour? ATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1931 vNITE1 =srATEs PATENT orr ce JOHN L. DRAKE, OF TOLEDO, AND LUKE MAMBOURG,OF LANCASTER, OHIO, ASSIGN- 1 OBS TO LIBBEY-OWENS-FORD GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO APPARATUS'FOR PRODUCING SHEET GLASS Original application filed August 20, 1927, Serial No. 214,278.,Diyided. and this application filed. May 2,

1930. Serial The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for producing sheet glass,

and this application is a divisionof our copending application filed August 20, 1927,

Serial No. 214,278. l v

In accordance with this invention, there i is provided an apparatus adapted for the production of sheet glass and embodying briefly. a 'worklng receptacle supported above a heatingchamber and containing a mass of molten glass. Aflpair of forming rolls are arranged-above the moltenglass preferably in close proximity thereto, said rolls being rotatable in such a manner as to tile and manner of mounting the same, said lip-tile being'located above one end of the receptacle and supported in such amanner as to provide passages or lines therebeneath so that a portion of the heat within the heating chambercan pass therefrom bethroughout the same, 1

- the present invention,

neath thelip-tile and be directed thereby downwardly upon the molten glass within the working receptacle seas to assist in properly conditioning the same whereby to facilitate and improvethe formation of the sheet. H

Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent during the course of the following description.

Inthe" drawings wherein like numerals are H employed to "designate like parts Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal'sect on through a machine embody ng Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the improved lip-tile removed from the machine, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3015 Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates No. 449,807.- I

a tank furnace adapted to contain a mass contain a relatively more shallow mass of molten glass than that. contained in the tank furnace proper to facilitate a more accurate control of the molten glass, al-

1 though the invention is not restricted to the depth of this glass. To assist in controlling the temperature of the molten glass 8, the pot or other receptacle 7 is preferably surrounded by a compartment 9 in which are arranged pot stools 10 for supporting the receptacle, while heating means 11 are provided to control the temperature of said pot chamber and thus assist in controlling the temperature of the glass.

It will be seen in Fig. 1 that a pair of rolls 12 and 13 respectively are arranged above the surface of the mass of molten glass 8. It is preferable that these rolls be arranged in a horizontal position such as shown, which means that a line drawn through the axes of the two rolls will be horizontally disposed, although the rolls Q can, of course, be arranged in a Vertical position if desired. The rolls are preferably positively driven and in such a manner that after a sheet hasbeen started by the use of a bait or other means as is well understood in the art, a relatively thick mass of glass 14 will be drawn or moved vertically from the pot. The numeral 15 designates the sheet which has been formed from the mass 14 .after'it'has passed between said rolls. The

rolls 12 and 13 are adjustably'ino'unted to permit'the production of any desired thickness of sheet and are arranged to create a sheet forming pass as is clearly shown in v Fig. 1 which directly controls the thickness of sheet produced. The mass 14 is of sufiicient thickness to supply the necessary amount of glass to the sheet forming pass to permit an actual rolling or reduction in thickness so that the finished sheet has a thickness less than that of the mass 14.

The heavy body of glass 14 maybe created Gil the sheet of glass 15.

by proper temperature regulation and control of the molten mass 8 and also by the speeds of the machine. To further assist in building up a requisite body of glass 14, edge engaging rolls 16 may be used.

The roll 12 is preferably normally held in a fixed position, while the roll 13 is-ad- "justably mounted I with respect to the first mentioned roll. It will be seen that the sheet 15 isdeflected from a vertical into .a horizontal plane over the roll 12, and 1t 1s also to-be noted that the space betweenthe peripheries'of the rolls 12 and 13 attheir closest point of approach is the controlling factor in the thickness of the sheet produced.

Inother' words, .the thickness of sheet produced is the same as the space between the rolls. Further, it will be noted that if sufficient glass is fed to the rolls, and with the present invention such is the case, the fin iehed sheet will be of uniform thickness throughout, which thickness 1S2LlSO predetermined by the proper adjustment of the roll '13 with respect to the roll 12. "The sheet 15' is carried on conveying rolls 17 which convey the saidsheet to an annealing leer 18 in which may be arranged supporting and conveying rolls 19.

' Mounted above the rolls 17 are one or more rolls 20, which rolls are illustrated in Fig. 1 in a raised position and out of contact with These rolls are constantly rotated when the machine is in operation to prevent warping due to the heat. When it is'desired to use the rolls, they are lowered into position and adapted to contact with the sheet. These rolls may be used to prevent buckling of the sheet and to also assist in conveying the same from the rolls and over the lower conveying rolls 17, but the pressure exerted by the rolls 20 is so controlled that they do not cause any reduction in the thickness of the sheet.

To assist in properly conditioning the molten glass 8 and to protect the mass 14 and ,sheet 15, a lip-tile 21, supported on a suitable V bracket 22,'is used; 'A' cooler 23is associated with the lip-tile in the manner shownin Fig. land prevents heat and gases from striking the rolls 12 and 13 and also from striking and injuring the glass 14; On the opposite side of the sheet a specially constructed lip-tile, designated in 'itsentirety "by the numeral 24, is used. In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown in detail'the construction of the lip-tile 24, and it will" be seen that the tile is formed from 'a plura-lity'ofsections 25 provided 1 with lcoop'erating tongues "26. Thus, the sections 25 are arranged side by side with the cooperating tongues 26 being provided along their adjacent side edges. The lip-tile is supported on suitable spaced refractory blocks or other supports 27 resting onthe end of the pot 7, the supports 27 of the sections of said tile.

like), and serve the same purpose.

preferably being arranged at the juncture Due to the construction of the stile and the method of mounting the same, it is possible to havethe sheet 15in its horizontal run arranged relatively close to the surface ofthe molten glass 8 which permits the use of the rolls 12 and 13iinrthe positions illustrated in the draw ings. With the old type of tiles commonly used, it is practically impossible. touse the present arrangement for producing sheet glass satisfactorily.

V ln add ition, by supporting the tile 24 at a plurality of spaced points by the blocks 27, passageways or fines are provided between said blocks through which heated air and gases may pass from the pot chamber 9 to assist in conditioning the molten mass 8.

Thus, heat coming from the compartment 9 in which the potis supported is allowed to pass up and under the lower surface of the'tile, being directed downwardly upon the surface of the molten glass by means of the downwardly inelined end 28 of the tile. The proper conditioning of the glass near the closed end of the receptacle 7 has a con- 'siderable bearing on the formation of the mass 14; While the supporting blocks 27 are here shown as resting directly upon the closed end of the receptacle, they could, of course, be positioned just back of the end wall, (being supported by brackets or the Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the positioning of the supporting blocks-directly upon the closed end of the pot.

Cooperatingwith the tile 24 is a heat absorb-ing shield '29 preferably arranged very close tothe surface of the molten bath and thus preventing an appreciable escape of heat from beneath the lip-tile 24 so as to protect the mass of glass 14 from'theheat applied to the surface of the glass '8.

It isto be understood that the form of the invention-herewith shown and described is to be take'nzas-the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes .in-the shape, size and arrangement of parts mav be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the snbjoined claims. i

1. In sheet glass apparatus, a' receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, means for heating the receptacle, a tile, and means for supporting said tileon the receptacle, said supporting ineans being of such character as to provide spaced openings through which heated gases may pass under the tile.

2. In sheet glassapparatus, a receptacle containing amassof molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, meansfor heating the receptacle, artile, supporting means contacting with the tile at spaced points, the supporting means forming heat conducting passageways between the points where it contacts with the tile and through which heated gases may pass from the re ceptacle heating means. r

, 3. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, means for heating the receptacle, a tile, and a plurality Y I means forming fiues through which heated gases may pass from the receptacle heating 'means when the tile is in operative position.

5. In. sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, means for heating the receptacle from beneath, a tile, and a plurality of spaced tile supporting 'means vresting on the receptacle and on which the tile is supported, the spacesbetween the supporting means forming fines 7 esv through which heated gases may pass from the receptacle heating means when the tile is in operative position. I

6. In sheet glass apparatus, areceptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, a heating compartment beneath'the receptacle, a tile, and a plurality of spaced tile supporting means carried -by the receptacle and on which thetile is supported, the spaces between the supporting means forming flues through which heated gases may pass from the heating compartment when the tile is in operative position. v

7. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, a plurality of'blocks mounted in spaced relation on the end of said receptacle, a tile supported on said blocks, and means for heating the receptacle containing the mass of molten glass, a portion of the heat passing between the spaced blocks and acting upon the surface of the glass in the receptacle.

8. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means the heat from said compartment can pass through said fiues beneath the tile.

9. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, means for forming a sheet therefrom, a heating t compartment beneath the receptacle, a tile, means for supporting the same, said supporting means being provided with a plurality of fines through which heated gases may pass from the heating compartment and be directed downwardly upon the glass within the receptacle.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and State ofOhio, this 28th day of April,

JOHN L. DRAKE.

Signed at Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Ohio, this 30th day of April, 1930.

LUKE C. MAMBOURG.

for forming a sheet therefrom, a heating V compartment beneath said receptacle, a tile,

and a plurality of spaced supporting elements resting upon the receptacle for supporting said tile intermediate its ends, the

spaces between said supporting elements forming fiues in communication with the 

